Uladzimir Shantsau, head of the Mahiliou regional organization of the United Civil Party

On 2 September it
became known that the Mahiliou City Executive Committee didn't
authorize a protest event which was to have taken place on 8
September, the Belarusian Military Glory Day.

In their answer
the officials of the Mahiliou City Executive Committee explained the
reasons for the refusal by the fact that the application, filed by
the democrats, didn't correspond to the existing requirements. At
first they were to have allegedly conducted agreements with the
police and other services which would deal with the serving of the
meeting, and only then file an appeal for the rally.

Meanwhile,
not all services, including law enforcement ones, enter into service
contracts without an appropriate permission of the Mahiliou City
Executive Committee. This creates a vicious circle, which results in
100% denials to hold any events.

The head of the Mahiliou
regional organization of the United Civil Party Uladzimir Shantsau
commented on the situation: “Eight leaders of democratic
organizations and parties signed under the collective application for
the event. The event was agreed within the limits of the Mahiliou
regional coalition of democratic forces, but be faced a denial. It is
quite strange, as far as we intended to hold the rally and the
procession in the officially authorized place – the “Chemist”
stadium on the city outskirts,” says Uladzimir Shantsau.

The
politician is indignant at the fact of the existence of the ruling of
the Council of Ministers No. 207 of 5 March 2012, in which it is
clearly stated that first comes the permission of the executive
committee to a mass event, and then – conclusion of service
agreements with the organizations which must serve it.

“It
seems that the level of qualification of our officials decreases with
each upcoming year, which discredits the existing power vertical even
more. The ruling of the Council of Ministers which establishes the
order for holding mass evens, has been in action for 1.5 years
already, but our officials found no time to introduce amendments in
accordance with this ruling to the decision of the Mahiliou City
Executive Committee,” revolts Uladzimir Shantsau.

The UCP
leader points that further steps of the democrats on this occasion
will be discussed at the nearest sitting of the coalition. He doesn't
deny that a decision to collect signatures will be taken, and also
says that an application for holding a rally and a procession will be
held to the Mahiliou City Executive Committee.